JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — City council members voted 12 to 6 Tuesday night to withdraw a bill that would remove the Women of the Confederacy Monument in Springfield Park.
Mayor Lenny Curry proposed the bill after he promised in June of 2020 to remove all Confederate monuments in the city.
“We expected an up or down vote tonight -- so we’re obviously pretty disappointed that it ended up with a withdrawal. It’s not what the Mayor wanted,” Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes said. “This is a city asset on city property. The Mayor believed it was city business to contemplate this. It was certainly Council’s requirement to vote on this, and they chose not to.”
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The $1.3 million proposed to remove the monument requires council approval because it’s about the $100,000 threshold.
Hughes said the monument has a value of more than $800,000 and the city pays an insurance on it, which is why it would cost that amount to remove the statue without damage.
In comparison, the statue at Hemming Plaza cost about $7,000 to remove.
Several proposals were discussed Tuesday night, including one from Councilmember Matt Carlucci to postpone the vote until March 22, 2022. Councilmember Brenda Priestly Jackson motioned to postpone until May 22, 2022.
There was also discussion about price. Councilmember Garrett Dennis proposed an amendment to reduce the cost of removal to $99,000.
Several outbursts from neighbors in council chambers forced President Sam Newby to empty the chambers halfway through discussions.
In the end, council voted to approve Councilmember Reggie Gaffney’s motion to withdraw.
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The monument has been at the center of controversy and demonstrations for months. The Northside Coalition rallied on City Hall steps before Tuesday night’s meeting.
“The basis of any compromise should include diversity, equity, and inclusion. That means we demand to be at the table,” Northside Coalition President Ben Frazier said. He pushed to have the vote delayed.
About 90 people spoke during the public comment section of the meeting which lasted nearly two hours. A majority spoke against removing the monument.
Seber Newsome said it’s a piece of history that should be preserved, not removed.
“Let the women’s monument stay where it is and where it has been for 106 years,” he said. He also asked city council to make a vote one way or another Tuesday night and not kick the can down the road.
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